Small Farmer Development Bank and the Embassy of Israel in Kathmandu are pleased to announce that 200 Small Farmers from Nepal will be leaving for Israel for advanced agricultural training in 2013. The first batch of 55 students will leave for Israel in the middle of August this year. They will receive training at the Arava International Center for Agricultural Training (AICAT) in Negev, Israel.
The training consists of one full day theoretical study and five full day paid research oriented practical work, for which they will be paid a salary according to Israeli standards. At the end of the training, the students are required to make a presentation on their findings and submit a research paper in AICAT.
The students are being selected through lottery and interviews from among the family members of Small Farmers Agricultural Cooperatives (SFACLs) associated with the Small Farmers Development Bank. The first batch of students are from Dhading and Makawanpur districts.
Such advanced agricultural training will certainly enhance the performance of small farmers. The trained farmers will significantly contribute towards development of agriculture sector in Nepal.
After returning from the training, the students are expected to share their knowledge, apply modern technology and learned skills from Israel with fellow farmers in Nepal. These students are also expected to engage in agricultural projects with the support from the Small Farmers Development Bank in order to bring changes in the quality of life of small and marginalized farmers. The Bank has its commitment for the financial support through concerned SFACLs to the returnees to start their own agriculture business in Nepal.
The high quality performances of the first batch of students from Small Farmers Families will open the door for more and more suitable and desirable students in the future for training advanced agricultural training in Israel.